Know If You Are Exposed To COVID Or Not By Taking This 6-minute Walk Test At Home

Disclaimer: The aim of the video, article, post is not to dispense medical advice. If you or anyone around you are exhibiting any symptoms do consult a medical health professional.

As the nation struggles amid the second wave of coronavirus with increasing demand for medical oxygen and hospitals, doctors are urging people to not panic if the RT-PCR test comes positive and not to seek hospital admission when not required.

In a video message posted by the citizen engagement platform of the government of India, based on the suggestions of Dr CS Pramesh, director, Tata Memorial Hospital, doctors suggest that those infected or suspected of infection must take the six-minute walk test to check their oxygen saturation.

Watch this video to know when one should seek admission in a hospital when found COVID-19 positive. #IndiaFightsCorona @MoHFW_INDIA @PMOIndia @PIB_India @MIB_India @drharshvardhan @cspramesh

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¡ª MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) April 21, 2021

Passing this walk test would mean that there is no need of hospital admission and failing would subsequently mean that a hospital admission is required, the video suggested. It would also determine if a patient is exposed to COVID or not, and how is their heart, lungs responding to self-paced walking. Maharashtra¡¯s state health department too has advised citizens to do this to check the functioning of their lungs.

Representational Image/PTI

What did it say?

For an accurate understanding of the oxygen level, taking a six-minute walk test is being suggested where a patient has to oxygen reading before and after six-minute of walking in their isolation rooms. This test can be taken 2-3 times in a day, the video message said. If these readings are normal, then there is no need for the hospital admission.

AFP

How to take the test?

For this, a patient needs to first monitor their oxygen level, then take a walk inside the room for six minutes and again check their oxygen saturation. ¡°This can be done 2-3 times in a day to keep a tap on the oxygen levels. All people undergoing COVID care at home must check their oxygen levels regularly as it has been observed that people with even low oxygen levels sometimes don¡¯t experience any discomfort- this condition is termed as happy hypoxia,¡± says Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, senior consultant, Internal Medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi.

BCCL

When is hospital admission needed?

• The baseline saturation on Oximeter is below 94 per cent.
• There is a 4 per cent or more fluctuation in oxygen level before and after 6 minutes of walking.

In such cases when the oxygen level is below 94 per cent, one should lie face down on their belly to improve the oxygen level in blood. Regarding medication, if a patient does not have any other symptom than fever, then only paracetamol is required.